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Louis Rivara stated he and his wife are both realtors and recently two of their promotional signs were confiscated from the median strip between Santa Rita Road and the frontage road near Jensen Tract. During this economic crisis he felt that the city needs to look for ways to support local business as much as possible and shared articles on other cities that have done things on both a narrow and broad scale concerning liberal policies towards signage. He asked the Council to consider other flexibilities on the way businesses are supported in this community. Mayor Hosterman said the City has done a lot to address the effects of the economy on merchants and asked staff to consider Mr. Rivara's comments for additional possibilities. PUBLIC HEARINGS AND OTHER MATTERS 20. Public Hearing: PGPA -15, City of Pleasanton Consider adoption of the General Plan Update including certification of the Environmental Impact Report (EIR), Environmental Findings, Statement of Overriding Considerations, and Adoption of the Draft General Plan dated April 24, 2009 (with amendments) Director of Community Development Brian Dolan presented the staff report, providing an overview of the updated General Plan and EIR development process and the changes made since the Council last reviewed both documents. He acknowledged the years of work by Principal Planner Janice Stern, contract planner Sally Maxwell, and former Planning Director Jerry Iserson that went into updating the General Plan. Mr. Dolan outlined the themes of the General Plan which differ from the previous plan and provide a framework to shape future growth of the Pleasanton community with a focus on conservation. He read the General Plan Vision, stating that it focuses on maintaining Pleasanton's community environment, strengthening business resources, preserving natural resources, and developing sustainable community principles. Sustainable development has been incorporated into every element of the General Plan and dictates policies and initiatives designed to foster fiscal sustainability, reduction of energy use, healthy community, and land uses and ways of life that result in fewer pollutants and greenhouse gas emissions. The Plan contains several new optional elements including: (1) Water Element which addresses conservation and protection of waterways and watersheds, providing and maintaining a sufficient and safe supply of water, protection from floods, and quality of runoff into the storm drainage system and ground water; and (2) Energy Element which addresses both conservation and the supply of energy and requires that the City provide leadership in this area. The Air Quality Element has also been updated to include the issues of climate change. The General Plan's Planning Concepts allow for mixed -use designation of Hacienda Business Park and other transit oriented sites and encourage housing opportunities near transit and specifically in the downtown area. This concept introduces the responsibility and commitment to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by promoting a more sustainable way of life. It also introduces the intent to develop an East Pleasanton Specific Plan with the potential for a wide variety of mixed elements and the Chain of Lakes concept. Mr. Dolan also noted the Plan includes Measures PP and QQ as well as requirements by the state. The language included in the measures appears in the Open Space and Conservation Elements as well as the Land Use Element. As a result, the Plan now incorporates prohibitions on building on slopes graded 25% or more and situated within 100 vertical feet of a ridgeline. In terms of the housing cap, it reaffirms the City's commitment to a 29,000 unit housing cap and also provides fairly specific language on what type of unit is and is not included in that cap. City Council Minutes Page 4 of 14 July 21, 2009